Media Release: Fire Danger Rating Raised to HIGH in Huntsville

The Muskoka Fire Danger Rating has been elevated to HIGH due to increasingly dry conditions and several recent wildland fires in the region. With warm weather and low humidity, the risk of wildfire is serious.

When the fire danger rating is HIGH, extreme caution must be taken with all open flames. Forest fuels are very dry, meaning new fires can start easily, burn aggressively, and challenge fire suppression efforts. Extreme caution must also be used in any forest activities.

For more information on outdoor burning, visit: huntsville.ca/fire

The Muskoka Fire Danger Rating is determined using the Fire Weather Index (FWI), an internationally used method for determining the risk of fires in open air. It uses factors such as the relative humidity, temperature, previous 24-hour rain amount, wind directions and wind speed in combination with the forest fuel type and loads to determine the risk of the forest to certain fire types. From this calculation the Forest Fire Danger Rating is made in consultation with the Fire Chiefs of the six area municipalities and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

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For more information contact:

Steve Markham
Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department
Public Education/Fire Prevention Officer
705-789-5201 x 3609
media@hlobfire.ca